Richards Bridge Oregon Trail Caspar 4th

John Baptiste Richard Sr. constructed the lower Platte Bridge on the Oregon Trail, 6 miles east of old Fort Caspar, in time to serve the heavy emigrant traffic in 1853. Richard Sr. was an early prominent trader on the North Platte River. In addition to running the bridge he operated a trading establishment that included a grocery and dry goods store and a blacksmith shop until 1865. "Richard's associates and employees were almost all married to women from various Sioux bands"; consequently, their Indian trade was mostly with the Sioux, and undoubtedly some trade occurred with the Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho as well. Albert Brubaker was in the small train led by Mr. Millard on their way to rendezvous with a larger train at the Bridger Cutoff. They reached "Reshaw's [Richard's] bridge in the latter part of May 1864, and then we met a band of some 800 Indians, consisting of tribes of Arapaho, Sioux, and Cheyenne. They were holding a council at that place."